Duterte to abolish BOC office in charge of auction of smuggled cars

February 12, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday he would abolish the office at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in charge of auctioning smuggled cars.

In a speech in Cebu, Duterte said the destruction of smuggled vehicles would continue.

"From now on, no more auction. I will abolish the auction office in Customs," he said.

Last Tuesday, Duterte witnessed the wrecking of over P61-million worth of luxury vehicles at BOC in Manila. Simultaneous destruction of luxury cars was done in the Port of Cebu and Port of Davao.

Duterte admitted that he felt regretful, particularly with the brand new Land Cruisers, which were run over by bulldozer in Davao, and a Porsche in Manila.

But he said the policy of destroying vehicles remains.

Duterte earlier said in auctioning smuggled vehicles, the smugglers themselves were the ones who participated and paid for the cars at cheaper prices. Celerina Monte/DMS